Electric switch of the snap action type



J. o. ROESER 2,594,216

ELECTRIC SWITCH OF THE SNAP ACTION TYPE April 22, 1952 Filed Jan. 301951.

IN VEN TOR.

.JMJ: d Zaeser BY %MZ%// 111's AI'J'oRA/Ex Patented Apr. 22, 1952ELECTRIC SWITCH OF THE SNAP ACTION TYPE John 0. Roeser, Chicago, Ill.,assignor to The Exhibit Supply Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation ofIllinois Application January 30, 195i, Serial No. 208,634

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements inelectric switches of the snap action type and has for its principalobject the provision of an improved construction of this character whichwill be highly efficient in use and economical in manufacture.

Among the several objects of the invention is to provide a simple andreliable snap action switch of the character hereinafter describedwhichis especially adaptable to be produced in a smaller size and one whichis composed of a minimum number of parts without in any way minimizingthe reliability and durability of the switch.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by ref erence to the accompanyingdrawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional detail view of the switch embodying myinvention and taken substantially on line l--l of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same; 1

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view similar to Fig. 1 by showing theswitch blade thereof in a different position;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the switch blade and its mountings;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the switch blade;

Fig. 6 is a plan view to enlarged scale of the blank from which a leafspring embodied in the invention is formed.

Preferably my improved snap action switch comprises a housing 10including a removable cover H detachably connected to the housing II) bysuitable screws l2. Within this housing is confined the major andprincipal parts of my switch. In this connection I provide a fixed post13 to the exterior end I4 of which may be attached a conductor wire (notshown). This post 13 provides at its interior end portion a forkshapedhead I 5 providing parallelly extending spaced apart legs l6 and l1.

A switch blade is indicated at I8 and has oneend portion provided with aU-shaped slot I! to provide an inwardly extending tongue 20. The end ofthis tongue engages a notch 2| formed in the leg IS. The blade at itsopposite end portion is provided with an elongated slot 22 through whichthe leg I 1 projects. In a notch 23 formed in the leg I! is projected anangled end portion 24 of a semi-circularly formed leaf spring 25. Theopposite end portion of this leaf spring 25 projects through the slot 22and provides a 2 T-shaped retaining head 26 engaging the under side ofthe blade iii.

The blade I 8 at its outer end is provided on opposite sides thereofwith contact discs 21 and 21' adapted to engage respectively contactheads 28 and 28'. These contact heads are carried by fixed arms 29 towhich conductor wires (not shown) are adapted to be attached.

Separating the U-shaped slot 19 from the slot 22 is a cross bar 30.Bearing upon the cross bar 30 is the end 3| of a slidable plunger 32.

Normally the leaf spring 25 functions to flex the blade l8 in adirection to engage the contact disc 2'! with the contact head 28 asshown in Fig. 1. Pressure of the plunger 32 upon the blade 18 at thepoint between the legs l6 and I! will flex the blade [8 against theaction of the leaf spring 25 so as to bear with snap action the contactdisc 21 into engagement with the contact head 28 as shown in Fig. 3.When the: pressure is removed from the plunger 32 the leaf spring 25biases the blade I8 back to its normal position shown in Fig. 1 withlike snap action.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that my improved snapswitch comprises relatively few parts and that it is positive andaccurate in its operation of momentarily engaging the contact disc 21withthe contact head 28'. The

arrangement for mounting .the switch blade l8 upon its supporting postI3 is unique and relatively simple, permitting expeditious assembly withthe result that the switch may be manufactured at an economical cost.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as some within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. A snap switch comprising a fixed post having a forked-shaped endportion providing spaced apart parallelly extending legs having notchesformed in their opposite non-confronting edges, a spring blade having anend portion providing a U-shaped slot to provide a tongue, one of saidlegs projecting through said slot, said tongue projecting into the notchof said one leg, the opposite end of said blade having an elongated slotform therein through which the other leg pro "j 2,594,216 I Y jects, asemi-circularly formed springleaf having one end portion projected intothe notch of said other leg, the opposite end of said spring leafproviding a T-shaped retaining head projected through said elongatedslot at the end thereof farthest away from said other leg and engagingthe underside of said blade, fixedcontact heads spaced from each otherand between which the said opposite end of the blade projects foralternate engagement with said heads, and a plunger having bearingengagement with the blade at a point between the legs.

2. A snap switch comprising a fixed post having a forked-shaped endportion providing spaced apart parallelly extending legs having notchesformed in their opposite non-confronting edges,

a spring blade providing a tongue projected into 4 V the notch of one ofsaid legs, the opposite end of said blade having an elongated slotformed therein, a semi-circularly formed spring leaf having one endportion projected into the notch of the other leg and the opposite endportion projected through said slot, said opposite end portion of saidspring leaf providing a, retaining between which the said opposite endof the blade projects for alternate engagement with said heads, and aplunger having bearing engagement with the blade atv a. point betweenthe legs.

JOHN O. ROESER.

7 No references cited.

